Tag: 1990s
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Remember the RuPaul Show Christmas Special
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growing up in the 1980s, tv christmas specials were usually over-the-top variety shows that featured musical numbers and sub-par comedic skits by d-list celebrities of yesteryear. and baby, i loved everything about them all! the gowns. the make-up. and celebrities singing “don we now our gay apparel.” it was this…
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LADY CATIRIA
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Catiria Reyes, widely known as Lady Catiria, was a Puerto Rican trans woman born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Like many young queer and transgender boricuas, Lady Catiria grew up idolizing the beloved, campy but glamorous Puerto Rican entertainer Iris Chacón. Known as “La Bomba de Puerto”, Chacón’s flamboyant, revealing outfits,…
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The (Mis)Education of AIDS Storylines on TV Shows: The Hogan Family
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the hogan family, originally titled “valerie” before the title character was killed off at the start of its third season in 1988, was an american sitcom starring jason bateman that revolved around three teenage brothers who were being raised in oak park, illinois by their airline pilot father and their…
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Songs That I Loved: Taylor Dayne’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love”
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chyle, picture it. summer of 1993 in philadelphia. my good friend at the time, oscar, came to my house and said “i was just at a gay club and it was amazing. they have teen night (18 & older) on wednesdays. i am taking you.” i was 16 and although…
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Earvin Magic Johnson
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1991 marked a decade of what it is now regarded as the AIDS crisis. the hope that emerged after the introduction of AZT, the first FDA approved pill to treat HIV, began to diminish after the death toll exceeded 100,000 in june 1991. by the end of the year, AIDS…
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Songs That I Loved: Mariah Carey’s “Emotions”
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chyle, some of my favorite childhood memories are when my mother allowed us to skip school so we could go with her to get her check. back then, you had to go to an actual bank and stand in line to get your public assistance which at that time was…
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Playlist: The Iconic Experience
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It’s Friday and we love playlist! Curated by Philly’s own Icon Ebony Fierce, “The Iconic Experience” is inspired by the legendary djs of the 90s, and high glam drag. This mood boosting playlist blends deep house, garage, new jack swing, Detroit techno and hip house to brighten your day. The…
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GEORGE MICHAEL
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to be a global pop star who was gay but not out during the height of the AIDS epidemic meant living in closets that were never to be vacated. It meant contending with being loved and adored by a world that was simultaneously waiting with baited breath to stigmatize you…
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Songs That Soundtracked the AIDS Epidemic: Spice Girls “Holler”
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“I want to make you holler, and make you scream my name” a song on the third studio album of The Spice Girls, opens up with a sonic reference to TLC’s “No Scrubs” and was released in the UK on October 23, 2000, three days before my 17th birthday. The…
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ZELMA DAVIS
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zelma davis should be a household name! as the principal vocalist of the über successful 1990s dance group c+c music factory, the liberian multi-faceted performer sang the hooks on four of the group’s #1 dance singles including two top 5 hits on the hot 100. unfortunately, after the lip-syncing scandal…
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Songs That Soundtracked the AIDS Epidemic: Boy George’s “Il Adore”
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in the early 1980s, boy george was one of the world’s most popular musical figures in the world. as lead singer and creative force of the british band culture club, boy george captured the world’s imagination with his flamboyant and provocative gender expression. but it was the group’s brand of…
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Songs That Soundtracked the AIDS Epidemic: TLC’s “Waterfalls”
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In 1995, Black people made up 49% of the AIDS-related deaths that year. This is insurmountable grief, personal loss and was an eradication of so many cultural memories, wiped away by the government’s lack of response to a virus. This was and is a form of genocide through anti-Black medicine’s…